Chapter 6: Ten Miles of Red Makeup
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Before dawn that day, the Yongchang Marquis's mansion was already brightly lit, and the servants moved with hurried yet orderly steps. The mansion gates were wide open, and a red carpet was laid out, stretching all the way to the street corner. Su Wenqian and Madam Wang, dressed in formal attire, led the entire household and waited outside the mansion gates early in the morning.
Surrounded by Yun Que and several maids, Su Wanrou sat before her dressing table. The elaborate makeup was meticulously done, and the slight pain during the facial threading made her gasp softly, but more than anything, she felt an indescribable tension in her heart. In the bronze mirror, the girl's eyebrows and eyes were carefully drawn, making her appear even more delicate. A touch of rouge on her cheeks softened her pallor, but it couldn't hide the trace of panic in her eyes.
"Miss, look how beautiful you are!" Yun Que inserted the last red-gold, kingfisher-feather, pearl-adorned phoenix hairpin into Su Wanrou's high-bun hairstyle, praising her sincerely. The woman in the mirror, with her cloud-like hair and beautiful face, adorned with pearls and jade, wore a bright red wedding gown embroidered with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, its splendor beyond compare. This wedding dress was Lady Wang's most prized possession; she had commissioned the best embroiderers in the capital to work over several days to alter it, just enough to fit Su Wanrou's measurements perfectly.
Beautiful as it was, she felt utterly unfamiliar. Su Wanrou looked at herself in the mirror as if she were looking at a meticulously dressed doll. From this day forward, she would don these magnificent shackles and step into a completely unfamiliar world.
"Rou'er," Madam Wang walked in and saw her daughter in her finery. Her eyes reddened again, but she held back her tears and took her hand, carefully instructing her, "Today is the betrothal ceremony. Although the Duke may not come in person, the reputation of the Duke's Mansion is your reputation. Every move you make must be dignified and proper. Do not lose your manners and make people look down on you."
"Don't worry, Mother, I understand," Su Wanrou replied softly, taking her mother's slightly cool hand in return, trying to draw strength from it.
As the auspicious hour approached, the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers could be faintly heard from outside, growing louder and louder as they approached, making people's hearts tremble with fear.
"They're here! They're here! The betrothal procession from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has arrived!" Steward Su Fu practically ran in to report, his voice trembling with excitement.
Su Wenqian took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and said in a deep voice, "Open the main gate and prepare to welcome the guests!"
Supported by Madam Wang and her maid, Su Wanrou moved to the side door of the front hall. Through the beaded curtain, she could vaguely see what was happening outside. The long procession of betrothal gifts, like a giant dragon draped in red and colorful ribbons, snaked its way from the street corner, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The servants carrying the betrothal gifts were all dressed in brand-new red clothes, their steps were neat and their bearing was dignified. Leading the procession were live geese symbolizing good fortune, pairs of deer and sheep tied with red ribbons, followed by heavy chests and boxes, one after another, endlessly.
"Ten sets of crimson gold headdresses! Ten sets of jade headdresses! Ten sets each of ruby and sapphire headdresses!"
"Two coral trees from the East China Sea! A white jade Guanyin statue bestowing a child! Four sandalwood screens inlaid with mother-of-pearl!"
"One hundred bolts each of Suzhou embroidery, Sichuan brocade, and Yun brocade! Fifty pieces each of mink, fox, and silver fox fur!"
"Land deeds for a thousand acres of fertile farmland on the outskirts of Beijing! Property deeds for ten prime shops on West Street!"
The announcer's voice boomed, each announcement eliciting gasps of astonishment from the crowd. The dazzling jewels, priceless antiques, and mountains of silks and satins were breathtaking. The richness and extravagance of the betrothal gifts far exceeded everyone's expectations; even the Duke's wedding to his first wife seemed to have been less grand!
Madam Wang held her daughter's hand tightly, her fingertips trembling with excitement, and whispered, "Rou'er, did you see that? The Duke... he values you extremely!" Such a generous betrothal gift was not only a display of wealth, but also the attitude of the Duke's mansion towards its future mistress. It was a direct declaration to Su Wanrou and to all onlookers.
Su Wenqian's face was also radiant with pride. He tried his best to remain calm, exchanging pleasantries and marriage certificates with Gu Shun, the head steward of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion who had come to propose marriage. Gu Shun's attitude was respectful yet not servile, and his words and actions were extremely well-mannered, fully demonstrating the prestige of the first noble family.
Looking through the beaded curtain at the chests and trunks that nearly filled the front yard and even stretched outside, Su Wanrou felt little of the joy a new bride would feel upon seeing such a lavish dowry. Instead, she felt that the dazzling expanse of red was like a huge, suffocating cloud, pressing down heavily on her. This wealth was not only an honor, but also a responsibility, a shackle.
Unlike the Yongchang Earl's Mansion, which deliberately maintained an atmosphere that could not hide its excitement, the atmosphere in the Songhe Hall of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion was somewhat subtle.
Madam Liu sat upright in the seat of honor, listening to her trusted nanny, Zhang, quietly report on the grand occasion of the betrothal ceremony.
"Madam, you didn't see it, the betrothal procession stretched from one end of the street to the other, and the wedding ceremony lasted for a full half hour! There were ten sets of gold headdresses alone, not to mention the estates and shops... This old servant thinks it's even more grand than when the late Madam entered the family!" Zhang Mama's tone was somewhat indignant.
Old Madam Liu held her prayer beads in her hand, her face calm, but her eyes were like a frozen lake, churning with undercurrents. How could she not know the deeper meaning behind Gu Yangui's actions? He was giving Su Wanrou face, and also sending a warning to everyone in the mansion who might hold him in contempt, including her, his aunt!
"It's better to be more ceremonious," Old Madam Liu said slowly, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger. "After all, it's a marriage bestowed by the Emperor, and she's the future Duchess of the State. A grander ceremony will show that our Duke's Mansion is well-mannered and values the Emperor's favor."
Zhao Yueru sat at the lower end of the table, her nails digging deeply into her palms. She had dressed up especially for the day, hoping to catch a glimpse of her cousin, even just from afar. Instead, she received news of an extremely lavish betrothal gift, which felt like a knife to her heart! That girl from a humble family, what right did she have?!
“Aunt! My cousin… he’s really giving that Su Wanrou too much credit! What does she have that she deserves…” Zhao Yueru couldn’t help but say sourly.
"Shut up!" Old Madam Liu interrupted her sharply, her gaze sweeping over her sternly. "A generous dowry is a matter of face for the Duke's mansion! If you have time to be jealous and sour here, you should think carefully about how to get along with this new mistress! Don't forget your place!"
Zhao Yueru turned pale from the scolding, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not utter another word.
Old Madam Liu closed her eyes, a cold smile playing on her lips. The higher you lift someone up, the harder they'll fall. The more dignified Gu Yangui is towards Su Wanrou now, the more severe the backlash will be if that girl can't handle the consequences later. She'll just wait and see.
The commotion surrounding the betrothal ceremony lasted all day, only gradually subsiding as night fell.
The betrothal gifts were carefully carried into the storeroom and registered. Madam Wang, holding Su Wanrou's hand, looked through the gift list again and again, excitedly planning which items to keep as part of her dowry and which to take back to the Duke's mansion later.
"Rou'er, look, this cloud-patterned brocade suits you perfectly. Keep it to make a few outfits for guests..."
"This ruby headdress is of excellent quality; it would be the most magnificent piece to wear on your wedding day..."
Su Wanrou listened absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on the window. The moonlight was cool and clear, a stark contrast to the bustling activity of the daytime.
“Mother,” she interrupted Madam Wang’s rambling softly, “I’m a little tired and would like to go back and rest first.”
Madam Wang then noticed the weariness in her daughter's eyes and quickly said, "Alright, alright, go and rest. You need to take good care of yourself these days; the wedding is probably just around the corner."
Back at Jasmine Garden, Su Wanrou dismissed everyone except Yun Que. She removed her hairpins and jewelry, washed away her makeup, and changed into a simple nightgown, only then feeling a little better.
"Miss, are you unhappy?" Yun Que asked cautiously as she combed her long hair. "The Duke has given such a generous betrothal gift; all the young ladies in the capital are so envious of you!"
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, now with a clean and natural face, Su Wanrou sighed softly: "Envious? Perhaps. But this overwhelming wealth is like wearing fancy shoes that don't fit. Outsiders see the glamour, but only those who walk in them know the true taste of it."
She walked to the window, gazing in the direction of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. That imposing estate, shrouded in night, resembled a lurking beast. What was that man doing at this moment? Did he know the immense attention his "ten-mile-long red bridal procession" had placed her in, and the profound fear it had instilled in her?
She raised her wrist, and the pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets gleamed warmly in the moonlight. The cool touch strangely soothed her restless heart.
"Yun Que, bring me 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Rules of the Duke's Mansion' so I can take another look." Su Wanrou turned around, her tone becoming more resolute. Since her future was already set, fear was useless; she could only try her best to learn and adapt. She couldn't let her parents down, nor could she... disappoint the person who had given her such a grand start.
The outer study of the Duke of Zhenguo's residence.
Gu Yangui finished dealing with military affairs late at night. Gu Qing served him with pen and ink, and also reported the details of the betrothal ceremony that day.
"The betrothal gifts have all been delivered to the Yongchang Marquis's residence, and Marquis Su and his wife are extremely satisfied. Miss Su... seems to have been staying behind the curtain the whole time and has not shown herself." Gu Qing carefully chose her words.
Gu Yangui hummed in response, unsurprised. With such a grand display, she, a sheltered young lady, was probably frightened, or perhaps shy?
"Has Mingxuan behaved himself today?" he asked.
"The young master was very happy and kept asking when his new mother would be married. He even secretly went to the storeroom to see what the betrothal gifts for his new mother would be, but the nanny persuaded him to come back," Gu Qing said with a smile.
Gu Yangui's lips curled slightly. Mingxuan's anticipation was what made this marriage so gratifying for him.
"What's going on at Songhetang?"
"The old lady is doing well and has even instructed the servants to prepare for the wedding carefully. However... Miss Zhao seems to be in a bad mood," Gu Qing reported truthfully.
A hint of annoyance flashed in Gu Yangui's eyes. He was not unaware of Zhao Yueru's intentions, but he had never taken them to heart and had explicitly rejected them. Now that the imperial decree had been issued, if she still failed to see the situation clearly and recklessly caused trouble, she shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.
"Send someone to keep an eye on Songhe Hall, especially Zhao Yueru. Before the wedding, there can be no mishaps within the manor," Gu Yangui ordered coldly.
"yes."
After Gu Qing left, the study returned to silence. Gu Yangui walked to the window, gazing at the red lanterns hanging in the courtyard in preparation for the wedding. Soon, this Duke's mansion, which had been quiet for many years, would welcome a new mistress.
That girl, who was as startled as a deer on the hunting grounds, yet possessed a calm demeanor at the palace banquet. The grand betrothal gifts he gave her were a responsibility, a promise, and perhaps... also mixed with a thought he himself had never delved into: that he hoped she could establish herself more securely in the household.
He would give her the honor and protection of a legal wife, as for everything else… Gu Yangui rubbed his temples, suppressing that inexplicable thought. Let's wait and see.
As night deepened, in two mansions, two people soon bound together by marriage awaited the arrival of a wedding destined to shake the capital, each with their own thoughts and anxieties. The clamor of the grand wedding procession had faded, but real life was yet to begin.
End of Chapter 6
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